Serious allegations
Medal hopeful allegedly “tortured” his horse!
Just before the start of the Olympic Games, long-known allegations against show jumping rider Max Kühner have resurfaced. Criminal proceedings are underway against the Austrian Paris participant for a violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Kühner rejects all accusations as completely unfounded, as the Austrian Equestrian Sports Federation (OEPS) announced. The Austrian Olympic Committee (ÖOC) also backed Kühner and demanded a rapid investigation.
According to a statement from the Starnberg district court, the Munich II public prosecutor's office applied for a penalty order to be issued against the 50-year-old Kühner in March. The German-born rider, who has been competing for Austria since 2015, is accused of "active barring" in May 2023. This method, which is banned in Germany, involves hitting a bar against a horse's legs to make it jump higher when overcoming an obstacle.
Kühner firmly rejects the accusations and a request has been made to discontinue the proceedings. "These are accusations that have no basis whatsoever. On the contrary, we can prove through official veterinary certificates, experts and many witnesses that our horses are and have always been well. Animal welfare is our top priority and our entire operation is geared towards this around the clock," he emphasized.
OEPS statement
The Austrian Equestrian Sports Federation (OEPS) supports its best show jumping rider and explained in a written statement to the APA on Thursday: "Based on all the observations made in the course of years of cooperation with Max Kühner, the OEPS can confirm that the keeping, training and presentation of his horses is of the highest quality. Due to his impeccable attitude towards the horse as a sporting partner, there is no reason whatsoever to assume that he uses or has used in the past methods in training that are contrary to animal welfare."
The Starnberg district court said that it is not possible to predict whether and when the main hearing will take place. "It can be assumed that no further information can be provided in this matter before mid-September 2024," a spokesperson for the local court told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
"Clarification necessary"
Elisabeth Max-Theurer, Vice President of the Austrian Olympic Committee and OEPS President, criticized the long duration of the investigation in an APA interview in the evening, as this also puts a strain on the rider. "It is clear that an investigation is necessary," she said. In Max's case, it was an unresolved matter and we had to wait to see whether a trial would take place." Why no attempt was made to clarify the matter before the Olympic Games? "This was deliberately spread and deliberately done. Perhaps Max is also envious because he is number three in the world and has absolute medal chances."
The FEI World Equestrian Federation is aware of the case and is currently gathering information, according to chief veterinarian Göran Akerström, reported dpa. If the suspicion is confirmed, proceedings will be initiated. The Austrian Federation explained in the evening that there has not yet been a request for a statement from the FEI. As soon as this is received, they will issue one.
Max-Theurer is certain that Kühner is not guilty of anything. "A really good show jumper doesn't need anything like that, that's why I'm sure. Max has a great eye, he can measure precisely and knows where the horse has to jump and land."
Equestrian sport hit the negative headlines at the beginning of the week. Three-time Olympic dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin was suspended by the FEI because a video showed her repeatedly hitting a horse on the legs with a whip. She herself had expressed her remorse and spoken of an error of judgment.
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